| Author |
Message |
Ric_b
Registered user
Username: Ric_b
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 11:30 am: |     |
Does the Bible say that we can "grieve away" the Spirit of God?
I'm not asking the question of whether a saved person can later decide to leave God, so please let's not pursue that debate.
I'm asking whether the phrase "grieve away" is a Biblical phrase, or is the "away" something that has been added?
And the answer is a resounding "No!". Scripture does not contain the phrase "grieve away".
Then perhaps there is something in the Greek that would imply the away?
quote:Strong's:
Cognate: 3076 lypéō (from 3077 /lýpē, "deep grief") – to experience deep, emotional pain (sadness), i.e. severe sorrow (grief). 3076 (lypéō) is very intense and hence even used of the pain of childbirth (see Gen 3:16, LXX). See 3077 (lypē).
The English word conveys the same meaning and connotations as the Greek.
If I said that my child grieved me, besides thinking that I talked funny, what would you conclude? Most likely that my child had caused me to be very sad. Would any of us assume from that language that my child's actions caused me to disown them? But that is exactly what we used to conclude this meant in Scripture.
So if the phrase didn't come from Scripture, where did we pick up the "away" addition?
Ellen White, of course. She uses the phrase multiple times. For instance:
quote:This has not always been fully understood. Satan has often brought in a spirit that has made it impossible for church-members to discern opportunities for service. Believers have not infrequently allowed the enemy to work through them at the very time when they should have been wholly consecrated to God and the advancement of his work. Unconsciously they have wandered far from the way of righteousness. Cherishing a spirit of criticism and fault-finding, of pharisaical piety and pride, they grieve away the Spirit of God, and greatly retard the work of God’s messengers. RH December 6, 1906, par. 2
quote:Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Those who are brought into covenant relation with God are pledged to speak of Him in the most respectful, reverential manner. Many refer to God and mention His name in their religious conversation much as they would mention a horse or any other common creature. This dishonors God. By precept and example parents should educate their children on this point, lest by irreverence they grieve away God’s Spirit from their hearts and the hearts of their children. 2SAT 185.2
This subject was touched on several years ago in relation to the question of the unpardonable sin, and may be worth reviewing as well. |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 1814
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 12:12 pm: | |
Ric_b~
Thank-you for this post~
"Words" are important~ this word 'away' in reference to the Holy Spirit
has caused so much worry and Fear among Adventists, and myself, when I was an Adventsit!
Just another one of the ways 'egw' was used by the kingdom of darkness
to confuse and frighten people~
~mj~ |
Ric_b
Registered user
Username: Ric_b
Post Number: 2208
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 12:31 pm: | |
Yes, altering and/or adding to the Word of God is a dangerous thing to do. |
Grace_alone
Registered user
Username: Grace_alone
Post Number: 2184
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 1:54 pm: | |
"Cherishing a spirit of criticism and fault-finding, of pharisaical piety and pride"
That's so funny. I remember sitting in the SDA church w/ my in-laws and this describes perfectly the pastor at the time! Criticizing and fault finding non-SDA churches while practicing Pharisaical piety and pride about how great it was that they kept the sabbath.
But I digress.
Isn't it amazing how one little word added can change meaning and cause such distress! Good reminder, Rick. |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 8189
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2015 - 10:42 am: | |
I would guess she had found the word 'pharisaical' in a book somewhere and fitted that in as an opportunity to hit them with what she perceived as a fifty dollar word on what she perceived as a fifteen cent crowd. |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 559
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2015 - 2:04 pm: | |
River,
Adventists took well over 100 years before they began comprehending just how much they had been "had" by Ellen White, and her plagiarism and her lies.
She correctly assessed her Audience. |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 560
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2015 - 2:12 pm: | |
River,
Adventists took well over 100 years before they began comprehending just how much they had been "had" by Ellen White, and her plagiarism and her lies.
She correctly assessed her Audience. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 15202
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 11:40 pm: | |
Rick, great post. You are right...that word "away" changes the meaning and has no place in that text. Thank you!
Colleen |
Truman
Registered user
Username: Truman
Post Number: 194
Registered: 1-2012
| | Posted on Friday, August 14, 2015 - 11:51 pm: | |
I enjoyed this post, Rick. Great points!
To add to Grace_Alone's comments, isn't is ironic that Ellen White was accusing others of "...cherishing a spirit of criticism and fault-finding?" Ellen's "Testimonies," (letters of counsel that were later published in book volumes) largely consisted of her skewering addressees for such horrific sins as drinking tea and having marital relations. |
